Postage-stamp feeding and affixing mechanism.



H. HERRIGK & E. PLOWE. POSTAGE STAMP FEEDING ARD AFFIXING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

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Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Plozue Gwynne/ 11 H. HBRRIGK & E. PLOWE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1909.

POSTAGE sum? FEEDING AND AFFIXING MECHANISM. 9 67, 9 1 4 H. HERRIGK & E. PLOWE.

POSTAGE $TAMP FEEDING AND AFIIXING MECHANISM.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

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' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1909.

HOUGI-ITON HERRICK AND EDWARD PLOWE, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

POSTAGE-STAMP FEEDING AND AFFIXING- MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Application filed September 8, 1909. Serial No. 516,661.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Houorrron HERRICK and EDWARD PLOWE, citizens of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Postage- Stamp Feeding-and Aflixing Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a feeding mechanism for postage stamp vending machines whereby upon depositing a coin of determined value in the machine operating the proper part a postage stamp is delivered and aflixed to the package, envelop or like containing the article to be transported through the mails.

Vhile the invention is designed for use in the manner stated it is to be understood that the construction is such that it may be readily adapted for manual operation independently of any vending mechanism so that the machine in its entirety may be utilized for feeding, moistening, and affixing the postage stamps, thelatter being cut one at a time from a stamp strip after the latter has been advanced the proper distance.

The invention also contemplates novel means for advancing a stamp strip, means for severing the stamps from the said strip, moistening mechanism for dampening the adhesive applied to the stamps, means for preventing the stamp strip binding in the stamp-way, a cutting mechanism and means for pressing the stamps upon the package or other article to be stamped.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combinations of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of the specification :-Figure 1 is a side view of a postage stamp feeding and aflixing mechanism constructed in accordance with and embodying the essential features of the invention showing the relation of the parts when the cutter and the body are elevated. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing therelation of the parts when the cutter and the body are lowered. Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the body and parts mounted thereon showing the same on a larger scale. Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of the front or delivery portion of the mechanism showing the parts on a larger scale and with the cutter and pressure plate depressed. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism. Fig. 6 is a front view of the mechanism, parts being broken away and showing the relative arrangement of the several elements when the cutter and body are elevated.

The mechanism comprises a frame A and a body B the two having pivotal connection so as to admit of the body having a rocking or oscillatory movement. The parts A and B may be of any construction depending upon the style and finish of the mechanism and the nature of the machine for which they are intended. The body B is hollow and adapted to contain water for moistening the postage stamps preliminary to affixing the same to the envelops or other packages to be stamped. The frame A comprises longitudinal bars 1, a transverse bar 2, and side upright-s 3.

The body B is hollow and tapered toward its front end and has its rear portion made rounded. The body is pivoted to the frame at 4 and is normally held elevated at its front end by means of contractile springs 5 which are connected at their front ends to hooks provided at opposite sides of the body and at their rear ends to arms 6 pivoted at 7. The body is arranged to operate between the uprights 3 and the longitudinal bars 1 and is limited in its downward movement by the bar 2. A partition 8 extended upward from the bottom of the body and secured at its ends to the sides thereof forms the back wall of the compartment which receives water 9 for moistening a sponge 10 or other absorbent material whereby the stamps are dampened as they are fed forward. The sponge or other absorbent material 10 is secured in the front end of the water space or compart-' portion of the bar 11 and also serving as with the stamp strip and positively advance means for regulating the tension of a spring 14 whereby the cutter 12 is pressed close against the bar 11 so as to insure positive and certain operation of the cutter throughout its length. The upper forward corner of the bar 11 constitutes a cutting edge which cooperates with the pivoted cutter 12. The bar 11 is of tempered steel or of such construction as to maintain a sharp edge to insure efficient operation of the cutting mechanism in the severance of the stamp strip into individual stamps. The spring 14 has one end bent about at a right angle as indicated at 15 to bear against the rear portion of the cutter 12 and its forward end is provided with a set screw 16 whereby the tension of the spring may be regulated to press the front end of the cutter 12 toward the bar or stationary cutter 11. The cutter 12 is loose upon the screw or fastening 13 thereby admitting of the screw 14 pressing said cutter toward the bar 11. A link 17 is pivotally connected at one end to the heel of the cutter 12 and is pivoted at its opposite end to a stud 18 projected upward from the bar 2. The connection is such that upon depressing the front end of the body the heel end of the cutter 12 is thrown upward and the front portion of the cutter caused to move downward in front of the bar 11 and to cooperate therewith so as to sever a stamp from the stamp strip. A plate 19 projects horizontally from the cutter 12 and is adapted to engage with the stamp and press the same upon the envelop, package or the like to be stamped. The pressure plate 19 may be of any size and construction so as to insure application of the stamp to the package required to have a stamp aflixed thereto.

The postage stamps are provided in a strip as indicated at 20 and for convenience said strip is formed in a roll upon a spool 21 which is mounted in arms 22 extended upward and rearward from the body B. The stamp strip 20 passes over the body and through a stamp-way formed between guides 23 near opposite sides of the body and a plate 24 pivoted at 25, the latter consisting of a rod or pin supported in the guides 23. The front portion of the plate 24 is provided with a series of longitudinal slots 26 forming spaces to receive the fingers 27 of the feeder which latter is pivoted at 28 to the upper ends of the arms 6. The front portion of the pivot plate 24 is curved downward as indicated at 29 so as to make positive engagement with the stamp strip 20 and hold the same upon the lower side of the stamp-way. The feeder is pivotally mounted upon a rod 28 which is supported at its ends by means of the arms 6. The fingers 27 are provided at their front ends with claws 30 which are pointed so as to engage the same when the front end of the body rises. The parts are so constructed and arranged to insurethe stamp strip being advanced a distance corresponding to the length of a stamp. The several stamps are separated by transverse lines of perforations in the well known manner and the movement of the feeder is such as to insure the points of the claws 30 entering certain perforations whereby the strip is positively advanced and slipping prevented. Light springs 31 are secured at their rear ends to the rear portion of the feeder and curve throughout their length in the form of a bow and their front ends are depressed or bent as indicated at 32 to fit about the fingers 27 and thereby prevent lateral displace ment of the springs. The front ends of the springs simply rest upon the fingers 27 and are adapted to ride thereon. A bail 33 is secured at its ends to the body and its horizontal portion extends over the springs 31 and is adapted to exert a downward pressure upon said springs throughout the major portion of the forward and backward stroke of the feed so as to hold the front ends of the fingers 27 in positive engagement with the stamp strip 20. A

A series of longitudinal ribs 34 are rovided upon the upper side of the top 0 the body and extend longitudinally thereof in parallel relation. The ribs 34 may be provided in any manner and are located opposite the respective fingers 27. The ribs 34 serve to strengthen the top of the body and also :to hold the stamp strip elevated therefrom and thereby preventing sticking or binding or moistening of the gummed side of the strip in the rear of the moistener even though the bottom of the stamp-way should be damp for some distance in the rear of the projecting portion of the moistener 10. The claws 30 of the fingers 27 straddle the ribs 34 and are adapted in the operation of the mechanism to make positive engagement with the stamp strip.

To prevent the stamp strip moving backward with the feeder when the latter is returning to normal position a detent is provided. This detent consists of a plate 35 which is pivotally mounted upon the pin or rod 25 and has its middle portion cut away to provide fingers which have their front end curved downward to engage with the stamp strip and hold the same after it has been advanced. The plate 35 may be of light spring metal whereby provision is had for ready adaptation of the detent to varying conditions to insure attaining the end desired.

The arms 6 are secured at their lower ends to a pin or rod 7 which is mounted in oppo side sides of the body B and their upper ends are connected by a pin or rod 28 upon which the feeder is pivotally mounted as stated. Links 36 connect the arms 6 near their lower ends with the upper ends of the uprights 3. It will thus be understood that upon depressing the front end of the body B the pin or rod 7 is moved upward and for ward thereby causing the upper ends of the arm 6 to be thrown rearward thereby moving the feeder to normal position ready to take hold of the stamp strip and advance the same when the front end of the body rises. When the front end of the body is depressed the springs 5 are subjected to tension with the result that when the body is released from the force pressing the same downward the springs 5 come into play to both elevate the front end of the body and toy throw the upper ends of the arms 6 forward thereby advancing the feeder and the stamp strip. The cutter 12 is thrown upward simultaneously with the elevation of the front end of the body so as not to obstruct the feed of the stamp strip. When the front end of the body is depressed the cutter is thrown downward thereby severing the stamp from the stamp strip and a moment thereafter pressing said stamp upon the envelop, package or the like by the action of the plate 19. As the stamp strip advances it passes over the portion of the moist-ener 10 extending through the openings in the bottom of the stamp-way or the top of the body and is thereby dampened.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that the invention provides a mechanism for feeding postage stamps and aflixing the same to letters, packages or the like which is admirably adapted for postage stamp vending machines but which may be used in any connection or capacity for afiixing postage stamps, labels or like articles to packages or analogous articles for any desired purpose.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination a body provided with a stamp-way through which a stamp strip is adapted to pass, a feeder, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said feeder for, advancing the stamp strip through the stamp-way, a bow spring cooperating with the feeder and means for exerting pressure upon the bow spring to hold the feeder in positive engagement with the stamp strip during the operation of the feeder.

2. In combination a body provided with a stamp-way, a pivotally mounted feeder, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to the feeder for advancing a stamp strip through the stamp-way, a bow spring secured at one end to the feeder and bearing at its opposite end upon said feeder, and

means cooperating with the bow spring to exert a pressure thereon during the reciprocating movement of the feeder to hold the latter in engagement with the stamp strip.

3. In combination a body provided with a stamp-way, an arm pivotally mounted upon said body, a feeder connected with said arm, a link connection between said pivoted arm, and a fixed part of the frame forming the support for the body, and means for imparting a pivotal movement to the body whereby the feeder is caused to reciprocate and advance a stamp strip through the stamp way.

I. In combination a fixed frame, a body pivoted to said frame and provided with a stamp-way, an arm pivotally mounted upon the body, a link connecting the pivoted arm with the fixed frame and a feeder carried by said arm and adapted to have a reciprocating movement imparted thereto simultaneously with the pivotal movement of said body whereby a stamp strip is fed through the stamp-way.

5. In combination a body provided with a stamp-way and having the lower side of said stamp-way provided with parallel ribs, a feeder for advancing a stamp strip to the stamp-way, said feeder comprising a series of fingers provided with claws which are adapted to straddle and cooperate with the respective ribs upon the lower side of the said stamp-way.

6. In combination a body, a plate pivotally connected at one end'to said body and spaced therefrom to form a stamp-way, the front portion of said plate having longitudinal slots extended inward therefrom, and having its front portion deflected toward the lower side of the stamp-way, a feeder comprising a series of fingers adapted to operate through the longitudinal slots of said plate and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to the feeder.

7. In combination a body, a plate spaced from the body to form a stamp-way and having pivotal connection at one end therewith and having its opposite end deflected toward the lower side of the stamp-way and formed with a series of longitudinal slots, a feeder comprising a series of fingers adapted to operate through the longitudinal slots of said plate, means for imparting a reciprocating movement of the feeder and a' detent arranged in the stamp-way to engage with the stamp strip and prevent backward movement of said stamp strip when the feeder is returning to normal position.

8. In combination a fixed cutter bar, a pivoted cutter, a fastening connecting the two, a spring mounted upon said fastening and exerting a pressure at one end thereon, and a set screw mounted in the opposite end portion of the spring to exert a variable pressure upon the opposite end portion of spring and adapted to exert a Variable presthe cutter. sure against the toe portion of said cutter.

9. In combination, a fixed cutter bar, a In testimony whereof we afiix our signapivoteddcutter, a set sfiregv having) screvg tures in presence of two witnesses. 5 threade connection Wit t e cutter ar an having the cutter loose thereon, a spring mounted upon said set screw and having an end bent and in contact with the heel por- Witnesses:

tion of the cutter, and a set screw threaded HENRY E. C. DrrzEN,

10 into an opening near the front end of said I M. H. HOLLIDAY. 

